Towing device



F. H. MILLER TOWING DEVICE Dec. 19, 1933.

Filed Jan, 6, 1935 n fx Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ol-*FlcEifv' u 1,940,556 'roWING DEVICE Frederick H. Miller, Portland, Oreg.v Applicatitn January s, 1933. serial No. 650,546

9 Claims. (o1. aso-33.14)

My invention relates to devices commonly known as'tow lines by which one motor vehicle may tow another or be towed by another' when for any reason it is desirable to do so.

OneV of the objects of my invention is to pro-` vide a tow line that willv always be ready for instant use, i. e., be located in such position on the vehicle that it will beunnecessary to lift up seats or open tool boxes to get at the rope.

Again, it is an object to provide a towing device wherein the towv line is held contained within a tube or casing that is longitudinally supported beneath the vehicle, preferably on the iront and rear axles thereof in such a manner that it will be protected against the elements, such as dirt, water, ice, snow, etc., and thus leave it free for smooth and easy operation when it is necessary or desirable to use it. Again, it is an object of my inventionto provide a towing device with a spring retracted line that can be used from either end of the vehicleY and a line of as great a length as possible. .Y i lWhen towing a car there is always danger when coming to certain unforseenstops, such as railroad lcrossings or trac stops, thatthe towed car will run over the tow rope; my invention therefore has for an object to provide la towing device which overcomes this objection by taking up slack all the time as the same occurs and preventing the cable from touching the ground at any time.

Further, itis an object of my invention to provide'a towingdevice in which the slack take-up spring works in both directionsso that the-tow line can be used to connect with either a towing vehicle in front or a vehicle to be towed in the rear. Further, it is an object of my invention to provide a towing devioe'in which-v the slack takeup spring also serves as al shock absorber.

Further, it isan object to provide a towing device in which provision is made to protect the spring against being mashed and tangled by overcompression VVand functionally to interpose between the tow'line and the spring a rigid abutment just prior to the time when the spring reaches its maximum `safe compression limit.

Again, it is an objectl off my invention to provide a towing device oi small diameter and of such design and construction that it` can be applied to any existing make of car without substantial alterations in the structure thereof.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter. Tothe attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides. in the novel. details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which willr be. first fully described "in the 'following detailed: description, then be particularly pointed` out in i the appended claims, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing in which:

VFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention in use. Figure 21s anV enlarged longitudinal section 'ot '36 one .end or the device, the tow line being in the` housedv or retracted position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2,'showing the other end of the device. Figure 4 is an end elevation of the device 10,1 shown in Figure' 2, with the connecting loopattachment removed.

Figure 5` is an elevation of the connecting loop-- attachment, the coupling pin being omitted. In the drawing in which. like Vnumerals of i5- Vreference designatev like parts in all of the ig- Viitted into the sockets l and 2 and extends the length of theY `vehicle from socket to socket. Some 'play may be left between the ends ofthe tube andthe heads of the sockets 1 and 2 ifr desired to allow forany slight'variations in the 9,!!y distance between axle and axle which may be due to one cause or anotherV (as, for instance; temperature changes which cause expansion and contraction.) f

Fitted within the tube 5fa't each end and slid-7 `9,51,` T able therein with arelatively close sliding iit` are pistons 8, the outer ends of each of which have openings 10 for the passage ofthe coupling heads 12 of the tow line 14, these heads being so'cketed at 13 to receive the ends offthe tow line-1:4 to 100 which they `are rigidly secured by'welding orlany other suitable way. rIihe free ends of the coupling heads 12 have tapered noses `15 to'assis't in their entry into the sockets 19 of therattachment by which the end of the'tow-lineis con- 1.05 nected tothe towing vehicle or to the vehicle` being towed, as the caselmay be. ThisI attachinent consists'of a socket 19 having, pin holes20 through which, and through the slots 17A inthe coupling headsl2, the coupling pins 18 maybe 1510 Each socket' im.A

passed. The attachment also includes a short length of rope 22 one end of which is secured to the eye 21 of the socket 19 and the other end is secured to a hook 23 so that the rope 22 may be looped around an axle and the hook 23 caught in the eye 21 (see Figure l). In order that the coupling pin 18 may not be lost it may be connected by a tie rope 24 to the socket eye 2l. The attachment just referred to is small, the length of the rope 22being less than a foot, and can be carried in a ypocket of the vehicle door or any other convenient place so as always to be at hand. k

An oil or grease cup 2S may be provided by means of which the tube 5 may be supplied with lubricant if desired.

In the normal position of the parts when the vehicle is not towing or being towed, vthe stops 16 are passed inwardly through the slot 7 and the head l2, given a quarter turn. (See Figures 2 and 3) When in this position the tension of the spring presses the heads 9 against the pins 16 and in turn presses those pins against the closed ends of the sockets 1 and 2, this holds the tow.line4 againstrattling. When it is desired to have the vehicle towed or to tow a vehicle, as the case may be, the particular end of the tow line tobe pulled out is given a quarter turn to bring the pin 16' out through the slot 7 and the socket attachment 19 is connected. The connection of the socket may be made rst and then-the meinber 12 be given a quarter turn to line up the pin 16 with the slot 7 if desired. Upon pulling out the end of the tow line the spring 11 will be cornpressed. f

The length of the pistonsk 3 are such that just before the spring reaches its maximum compression these pistons will vengage one another and thus form a rigid abutment, the head 9 of the advance piston resting against the end of the socket ,1, The pin 16 of the rear head l2 thus impartsits force through the rigid abutment 81-8 and advance socket 1 to the adjacent axle of the vehicle. When the tow line is released the spring 11 will retract it. The tapered nose 15 of the head V12 that is within the pipe 5 during the towing act will easilynd its way through the opening inthe socket 2 or 1 as the case may be, and pass out again to the neutral position. In the practical embodiment of my invention the tube 5 may be made offtubingvhaving a diameter of '7/8 outside and 3A inside; a Mi steel lwire rope and a Neil@ piano wire spring maybe used. A tube of the diameter stated can be pushed through any1" opening in the running gear and the `socket members 1 and 2 maybe tted over theends of the pipe member` with ease.

It will vbe seen from lthe foregoing` description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing that my towing device will maintain a taut rope while towing; it can be attached to all models of cars without alterations of the same;

4 all moving parts are enclosed when not. in use,y

thus insuring long life of the frail parts; no part of the device is exposed to get caught on road obstructions; the construction of the device vis neat and parts are easy to replace and the cost of the complete device` is not much more than that of a good tow rope; when attached toa car it becomes a part of the same and is notreadily recognizable as a towing device; it insures safety andy eliminates worry and danger connected with a car running over the tow rope; due to its light construction it mayvnot absorb shocks under all conditions, the prime object being to keep the rope taut once the car is under way and to maintain the same taut when the car is brought to a stop, although to the extent of the springs power it serves also as a shock absorber.

Other objects of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. A towing device including a pair of sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the front and back-thereof respectively, a pro-v tecting tube having its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length ofl said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means within said tube and extending from end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means includving pistons siidable within the respective ends of said tube, a spring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow linevheads against which said pistons abut.

2. A towing device including a pair of sockets,

means securing saidv sockets beneath a vehicle` at 'Y the front and back thereof respectively, a protecting tube having its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length of'said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means within said tube and extending from end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means including pistons slidable within the respective ends of said tube, a spring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow line heads-against which said pistons abut, said sockets having provisions to pass said abutments when theyare in one position and to prevent passage of said abutments when they are in another position. l

V3. A towingjdevice including a pair of sockets,

'means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle iis ends of said tube, a spring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow lineheads against which said pistons abut, saiduabutments comprising radial projections -on said heads, said sockets having slots to pass said abutments when they alignwith the slots only.

4. A towing device including a pair of sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the front and back thereof respectively, a protecting tube havingv its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length of said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, spring4 means within said tube and extending from end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, and a coupling attachment comprising a socket to receive the Vouter end of a coupling head, means to hold said socket to saidl head, a flexible cable having at one end a hook and having its other end connected to said socket for the purposes described.

5. A towing device including a pair rof sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the front and back thereof respectively,y a protecting tube having its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length of said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means within said tube and extending from end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means including pistons slidable within the respective ends of said tube, aspring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow line heads against which said pistons abut, and a coupling -attachment comprising a socket to receive the outer end of a coupling head, means to hold said socket to said head, a flexible cable having at oneend a hook and having its other end connected to said socket for the purposes described.

A 6. A towing device including a pair of sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the'front and back thereof respectively, a protecting tubehaving its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length of said tube and includingcoupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means within said tube and extending from end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means including pistons slidablewithin the respective ends of said tube, a spring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow line heads against which said pistons abut, said sockets` having provisions to pass said abutments when they are in one position and to prevent passage of said abutments when they are in another position, and a coupling attachment comprising a socket to receive the outer end of a coupling head, means to hold said socket to said head, a flexible cable having at one end a hook and having its other end connected to said socket for the purposes described.

'7. A towing device including a pair of sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the front and back thereof respectively, a pro'- tecting tube having its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line vextending the length of said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means withinsaid tube and extending from `end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means including pistons slidable within the respective ends of said tube,'a spring extendingV from piston to piston Within the tube, and'abutments on the tow line heads against which said pistons abut, said abutments comprising radial projections on said heads, said sockets having slots vto pass said abutments when they align with the slots only, and a coupling attachment comprising a socket to receive the outer end of a coupling head, means to hold said socket to said head, a flexible cable having at one end a hook and having its other end connected to saidl socket for the'purposes described.

8. In combination with the front and rear axles of a vehicle, a towing device comprising a pair of sockets, means to secure said sockets to the front and rear axles of the vehicle, a tube having its ends held in said sockets respectively. said sockets each having a wall at its outer end provided with an aperture, a tow line normally located within said tube and having heads at its ends one of which projects into theaperture of one socket wall and the other projects through the .aperture of the other socket wall, cuppistons located one at either end of said tube and having opposed open ends, a coil spring having its ends in said pistons and extending from one piston to the other within the tube, lugs extending laterally from the heads of the tow line to lie between the outer ends of the pistons and the adjacent sockets respectively, the sockets having Vslots to pass said abutments only when the abutments are in alignmentwith the slots.

9. A towing device including a pair of sockets, means securing said sockets beneath a vehicle at the front and back thereof respectively, a

protecting tube having its ends located in the respective sockets, a tow line extending the length of said tube and including coupling heads projecting through apertures in the remote ends of said sockets, and spring means Within Said tube and extendingfrom end to end thereof for holding said tow line taut, said spring means including pistons slidable within the respective ends of said tube, a spring extending from piston to piston within the tube, and abutments on the tow line heads against which said pistons abut, said pistons being hollow and of a combined length greater than that of the spring when fully compressed. l

FREDERICK H. MILLER. 

